Transcript Highlights:

• File item 9, we will pass and retain. Reconsideration, file items 10 through 12.
• That brings us to the Assembly Third Reading File, file items 13 through 95.
• Passing and retaining file item 76, 77. File item 78, that's AB 2238.
• File order, we are going to pass and retain file items 88 through 95.
• file and brings us to the Senate third reading file.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved a procedural motion by a 41-17 roll call to re-refer AB 2690 and AB 1863 to Appropriations and to allow guests for the Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. House Resolution 92, recognizing Cinco de Mayo Week, was adopted after supportive remarks from members of several caucuses, and the chamber then held the 2026 Latino Spirit Awards ceremony honoring 11 individuals and organizations in higher education, human rights, philanthropy, health and science, advocacy, business, environmental justice, journalism and media, culinary arts, and a legacy award for Los Tigres del Norte. After the ceremony, the Assembly resumed business with guest introductions and moved through the daily file, passing or retaining a number of bills and resolutions. Among the measures taken up, the Assembly passed AB 1657 on domestic violence restraining order procedures (64-0), AB 2042 on civil procedure and service of process (66-0), AB 1660 on probate and public guardians (45-10), AB 1917 on criminal procedure and reinstatement of dismissed charges (43-15), AB 2148 clarifying that public school employees are human beings in the context of AI (69-0), AB 1647 protecting juvenile statements at transfer hearings (63-0), AB 1555 expanding community college access in Siskiyou County (66-0), AB 1608 on High-Speed Rail Inspector General oversight and reporting (45-18), AB 1803 requiring anti-hate speech training in workplace harassment prevention (50-9), AB 2128 protecting tenants in subsidized housing from certain federal work requirements and time limits (44-16), AB 2576 as a land-use cleanup bill protecting historic resources (61-0), AB 2601 allowing concurrent review for certain housing projects, and AB 2764 on extended foster care eligibility (60-0). Several items were passed and retained on file, and AB 2601 was interrupted by a call of the house before later business continued. The chamber also adopted ACR 159 on indigent defense after adding 59 coauthors, then heard guest introductions from chief public defenders from multiple counties. ACR 179, designating Wildland Urban Interface Preparedness and Resilience Day, was adopted with 65 coauthors after remarks on wildfire risk and forest management. Later, ACR 183 establishing Black Health Equity Advocacy Week was presented with extensive testimony from members of multiple caucuses emphasizing racial health disparities, maternal mortality, life expectancy gaps, and the need for systemic change; the debate continued beyond the excerpt provided. Throughout the session, members repeatedly used guest introductions to recognize visiting groups and individuals, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members, UAW President Shawn Fain, California Women in Agriculture, and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second reading of House File 475. Second reading of House File 2437. Introduction of bills.
• First reading of Senate files.
• House file. House file number 2434, an House file.
• Senate file number with transmitted.
• <00:08:37.680> First First reading of Senate files. First First reading of Senate files.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The secretary will read the Senate file numbers. Senate File 2370, 1581, and 2161.
• secretary will read the Senate file secretary will read the Senate file numbers.<00:03:53.440>
• Senate file numbers 2370, 1581, numbers. Senate file numbers 2370, 1581, and<00:03:57.200> 2161.
• The secretary will read the House file numbers. House File 129 and 1346.
• The House files have been given their The House files have been given their second<00:04:16.560> reading

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Senate File 2292 and Senate File 2301 from Senator Herr.
• And last but certainly not least, we'll have Senate File 993 and Senate File 2167 from me.
• We also have Senate File 2292 and Senate File 2301 from Senator Herr.
• File 2351. File 2351.
• for Senate File number 2292. for Senate File number 2292.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill on our agenda is Senate File 13.
• You bring Senate File 13.
• The first one is Senate File 69 with regard to Big Lake Public Schools. very very much Senate file 67
• Senator uh Matthews Senate file 70 as Senator uh Matthews Senate file 70 as amended<00:18:27.320>
• Senate File 10.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill, House File 4066. bill, House File 4066.
• File 3946. File 3946.
• It was House File<00:52:21.720> 3695. File 3695. File 3695.
• File 2742. File 2742.
• This is House File<00:53:19.880> 3504. File 3504. File 3504.

Bills: HF4446, HF4066, HF1082

Keywords: public safety officer, survivor benefits, line of duty death, occupational cancer, firefighter, police officer, paramedic, EMT, correctional officer, first responder, workers' compensation, death benefits, occupational exposure, carcinogen, cancer presumption, mesothelioma, leukemia, lung cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Transcript Highlights:

• “Because whenever we file a lawsuit, we report to this committee that we have filed a lawsuit on behalf
• to filing suit.”
• It was a motion to file them all. Batch and file. Thank you, ma'am.” “You're dismissed. All right.
• filed an answer.
• I think we should have...” ...have filed, the university has filed an answer.

Summary: The committee first reviewed several wage-claim and labor-related litigation reports from the Department of Labor and Licensing. Members questioned the department’s authority and jurisdiction, whether it was acting like a court, and why it sought attorney’s fees and costs. Department staff explained that the claims arose under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act and related labor statutes, that the department investigates small wage claims and can file suit when informal resolution fails, and that filing fees are waived by statute though service costs may be incurred. The committee reviewed individual cases, including one where the employer had not proven cash payments, another that had already been paid and dismissed, and a third where service could not yet be completed. The committee then voted to review or batch-file the labor items. The University of Arkansas System then reported on three pending lawsuits under the litigation-notification statute. One case involving a tenured professor alleging age and race discrimination had already been resolved and dismissed after the university re-engaged in discussions about a position. A second case involving a former employee alleging ADA and FMLA retaliation was moving forward after partial dismissal and an answer denying liability. A third case involved a former vendor employee alleging retaliation tied to a parking ticket; members asked about individual-capacity exposure for a university police sergeant, and counsel explained that punitive damages could potentially create personal exposure. The committee reviewed each report. The Department of Finance and Administration presented a proposed tax settlement reducing a sales-and-use tax assessment from about $48,000 to $20,000, with interest and penalties waived, and the committee approved it. The Claims Commission then presented several claims and settlements, including an unpaid salary differential for the Department of Health, reissued warrants, unpaid bills for DHS, and multiple negotiated settlements involving UAMS, Arkansas State Police, and ARDOT; these were generally approved or batched for approval. The most extensive discussion involved a settlement between the Teacher Retirement System and Tetronics International Limited in liquidation, arising from losses tied to the failed Blue Oak project; members questioned the company’s liquidation status, the prior investment loss, and why the matter was settling for $65,000, and the committee ultimately affirmed the settlement. The committee also heard a disputed tax-sale claim involving the Commissioner of State Lands, where a claimant argued that excess proceeds from a 2009 tax sale should have gone to her family rather than escheating to the county. After testimony from the claimant and counsel, members debated sovereign immunity, heirship, and whether the committee could or should award the $4,200 overage. The motion was amended and then replaced with a motion to hold the matter over for further review in a future joint session, which passed. Finally, the committee considered an appeal by Andrew Simpson challenging dismissal of his claim against the Arkansas Court of Appeals; after Simpson and court staff explained the underlying dispute, the committee reviewed the dismissal and the matter was held over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• . 688,000 of those were circuit court filings, and 2.9 million were county court filings.
• fewer of the cases that... ...use filings.
• The pent-up demand was waning, and so all the cases that didn't get filed in 2020, they got filed in
• Those are, again, cases that are filed that we do not receive any sort of filing fee for.
• We don't receive the $400 filing fee for that divorce because they've filed as indigent, and that is

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• filings from our system,<00:05:27.360> our<00:05:27.520> business<00:05:27.759> filing
• Do to remove that business filing because it's clearly a fraudulently filed business.
• And it's also giving that filing credibility.
• clarify that this would be the filing clarify that this would be the filing itself<00:07:57.199>
• <00:09:05.440> in find out there is a business filed in find out there is a business filed

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several House bills related to fraud prevention and business filing procedures. On HB 1719, members discussed creating a study committee to examine prevention strategies for financial fraud and related scams, with the sponsor citing a sharp increase in securities division investigations and the need to coordinate among multiple state agencies. Questions focused on whether the study would include deed fraud and veterans’ fraud; the sponsor said the committee was initially aimed at securities fraud but could be expanded, and noted the Veterans Affairs director was included. An amendment adding the president of the Mississippi Bankers Association or designee was adopted, and the bill was given a do pass strike all recommendation. HB 1532 would allow the Secretary of State to remove fraudulent business filings and protect personal information used without consent. The sponsor explained that current law does not let the office remove a filing even when someone’s name, address, or phone number is used fraudulently, and said the bill would create a process to investigate complaints and take down fraudulent filings. Members clarified that the bill would not address scam solicitation letters sent to businesses, only fraudulent filings themselves. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass. HB 1642 would move dissolution notices for corporations and LLCs to electronic notice. The sponsor said Mississippi already requires email addresses on filings and has been sending both email and mailed notices, but the bill would allow email-only notice and save about $65,000 in mailing costs while improving response rates. After concerns were raised about whether electronic notice alone was enough before a business is dissolved, the committee adopted a reverse repealer amendment to keep working on the issue, then reported the bill out with a title sufficient, do pass strike all recommendation and rose and reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• So without objection, we will file this report. All right. Thank you. We will file that report.
• File that report. Okay. Yeah, okay. Without objection, we're going to file that report. Thank you.
• Staff recommends we file this report. Any questions? We're going to file that report.
• You said file? I said file? Okay, I made a mistake. Committee, I'm sorry.
• Staff recommends that we file these reports.

Summary: The committee first approved a motion by voice vote, then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. For the 2012 reports, staff said five additional 2024 reports had been received since the December meeting, bringing the total to 17 with escrow funds released and 26 still escrowed. For the 2023 delinquent reports, two more had come in, leaving five outstanding; both reports were filed without objection. The committee then focused on Act 709 repayment issues for the town of Daisy. Audit staff said Daisy had made unauthorized payments to a nonprofit and had used restricted street funds for fire-related expenses, and that the town had not yet adopted the required repayment ordinance. Mayor Lisa Cogburn said the council had not approved repayment because members disputed the amount, though she said the town had funds to pay. After discussion about the audit calculations and statutory repayment requirements, the committee adopted a motion requiring 10% repayment of the street fund under the statute and providing that failure to comply would result in withholding turnback funds. The Daisy report was then filed. The committee reviewed numerous additional audit findings from cities, counties, and water departments. Several local officials appeared and described corrective steps, including reconciliation work in Harrison and Carroll County, revenue-code corrections in Izard County, monthly bond-pending reviews in Alexander, fixed-asset documentation and receipt procedures in the town of 56, and bookkeeping/receipt improvements in Ozan and Lee County. Some matters were deferred, including several private water and sewer reports and Green Forest, while others were filed. Reports involving more serious issues were referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General, including Bull Shoals, Lone Oak County, Beaver, Central City, Gravette, Ralston Water Department, Thornton Waterworks, and others. The committee also filed 19 reports with resolved findings and 53 reports with no findings, and adjourned with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3006. Second reading. Second reading of House File 3022.
• House Files 3167 through 3187. First reading of House Files 3167 through 3187.
• House File 1722, House File 2233, and House File 2554.
• House File 1722.
• House File 1722.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill on consideration is Senate File 5. Senate File 5.
• witness um seeing none um Senate file witness um seeing none um Senate file five<00:13:10.160>
• uh filers file on a monthly quarterly or uh filers file on a monthly quarterly or annual<00:19:33.799
• Senate file Senate file 1082<00:20:25.840> the<00:20:26.000> scor<00:20:26.480>
• > file 8 Senate file 837 is a senate file file 8 Senate file 837 is a senate file that<00:59:24.200><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3479, Representative Fryberg. House File 4118, Representative Kiza Watun.
• House File 4241, Representative Fryberg. House File 3699, Representative Gotfrieded.
• House File 3467, Representative Ray Rarrower, and House File 3544, Representative Rapinsky.
• File 4118, Representative Kiza Watun. File 4118, Representative Kiza Watun.
• <00:01:18.080> File 4241, Representative Fryberg, House File 4241, Representative Fryberg,

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Rules Committee met on Thursday, April 9th with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from Tuesday, April 7th by voice vote. Representative Allen initially offered the motion, then Representative Jordan moved approval after it was noted Allen had not been present. The minutes were adopted without discussion. The committee then considered the calendar for Monday, April 13th. The proposed calendar included House Files 3437, 3479, 4118, 4241, 3699, 3467, and 3544, along with Senate File 2511, with the listed authors or lead house author noted during the meeting. Representative Niska urged support for the motion to adopt the calendar. The committee adopted the calendar by voice vote. The motion also designated Monday, April 13th for adoption of the calendar for the day and required pre-filing of amendments for the bills on that calendar, pursuant to Rules 1.21 and 3.33. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:42.480> number File number File number 2435.<00:12:44.320> House<00:12:44.639>
• transmitted: House File 2464.
• File 3238, which is the Workers File 3238, which is the Workers Compensation<00:18:25.039> Advisory
• Members, we will now go to House File Members, we will now go to House File 1290.<00:25:01.440><
• Senate file number 1959 at 11:00 a.m. Senate file number 1959 at 11:00 a.m.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are on file item number seven, AB 998. Thank you. We are on file item number seven, AB 998.
• Yeah, we go back to file item six. I'm going to go back to file item six.
• File item 2, AB 362, File item 2, AB 362, due pass to Appropriations.
• File item 6, AB 864. File item 6, AB 864, due pass to Appropriations. Bauer-Kahan, Castillo. Aye.
• File Item No. 8, AB 1031, Bauer-Kahan. File Item No. 9, AB 1088, due pass. Kayhan.

Summary: The committee heard a series of environmental safety and toxic materials measures, with several bills moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Early in the meeting, the consent calendar was approved, including AB 372, AB 455, AB 1096, AB 1102, and AB 754. AB 362 by Assembly Member Ramos, which would recognize tribal beneficial uses of water and strengthen consultation and protection for tribal water uses, drew strong support from tribes and environmental groups. Water agencies and local government representatives opposed unless amended, raising concerns about CEQA requirements, co-management language, and conflicts with existing water law. The bill advanced to Appropriations, with some members voting aye and others not voting or absent. AB 728 by Assembly Member Lee would require age verification for the sale of certain anti-aging skin care products to minors. The author and a youth witness described social media-driven use of adult skin products by children and alleged skin damage, while supporters argued age checks are a reasonable consumer protection. Dermatologists and retailers opposed the bill, saying it could restrict legitimate acne and other medical uses of over-the-counter products, create compliance problems, and lacked a clear scientific basis. The committee discussed possible ambiguity in the bill’s definition of anti-aging products, but the measure still passed to Appropriations. AB 532 on low-income water rate assistance, AB 773 on copper-based anti-fouling paint, AB 998 on household hazardous waste disposal of vape pens, AB 1031 on geothermal hazardous waste fees, and AB 864 on solar panel hazardous waste and recycling all received strong support and advanced to Appropriations. Supporters for AB 532 emphasized water affordability and local program authority; AB 773 supporters said conflicting state water and pesticide rules are creating confusion for harbors and cities; AB 998 was presented as a practical way to let schools and local facilities dispose of confiscated vape devices safely; AB 1031 was framed as reducing DTSC fee burdens on geothermal development in Imperial County; and AB 864 would ease recycling and reuse of end-of-life solar panels. The committee also began hearing AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals, with the author and supporters arguing it would phase out the most harmful ultra-processed foods from school meals by 2032, but the transcript cuts off before the full discussion and any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• file 5200 be passed to general orders. file 5200 be passed to general orders.
• I will begin with Senate File 3236.
• <00:10:09.520> 4503 consideration of Senate file 4503 consideration of Senate file 4503 be
• all further proceedings on Senate file all further proceedings on Senate file 4503,<00:11:05.680
• reconsider the motion on Senate file reconsider the motion on Senate file 4276.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is for the file that ends in 12.
• He filed it on February 6, 2023.
• 2970 or Senate File 2978?
• The proono either Senate file.
• "Okay, you got to file a claim." And "Okay, you got to file a claim."

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You will see CER file number 1870.
• <00:13:32.160> number page you'll see Senate file number page you'll see Senate file number
• <00:14:06.040> number same page you'll see Cate file number same page you'll see Cate file
• <00:14:28.560> number page 15 you'll see CIF file number page 15 you'll see CIF file number
• I have Senate File 1552.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > and admitted house file numbers 124 129 and admitted house file numbers 124 129 and 286<00:06
• <00:08:51.040> number you'll see Senate file number you'll see Senate file number 2350<00:
• <00:09:03.200> number nine you will see CER file number nine you will see CER file number
• <00:09:36.320> number 12 you'll see ctif file number 12 you'll see ctif file number 2387<00
• Senator Howley moves to Senate file Senator Howley moves to Senate file number<00:10:40.160>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our strong support for Senate file our strong support for Senate file 1356<00:03:48.280> as
• Senate File 1994. I'm sorry, Senate File 1994.
• file file 1476<00:20:32.760> uh<00:20:32.960> and<00:20:33.240> as<00:20:33.480
• /c><01:10:10.880> file um uh Senate file um uh Senate file 16 16 16 um um um 17<01:10:16.719><
• We'll begin with Senate File ...

Keywords: 1187, senate, all